Sunday, April 13, 2014

ARC Mini-Review: To Love a Highlander

Blurb:

A TEMPTING PROPOSITION

As
one of the bastards born to the Stirling court, Sorley the Hawk has never known
his mother or father. It's a burning quest he has devoted himself to uncovering
at any cost. But as a roguish warrior who serves at the pleasure of the King,
his prowess-both on the battlefield and in his bedchamber-is legendary. So when
a flame-haired Highland lass sneaks into his quarters with a tantalizing
proposition, he can't resist taking her up on her offer . . .

AN UNQUENCHABLE DESIRE

Lady
Mirabelle MacLaren will do anything to keep from marrying her odious suitor,
even sully her own good name. And who better to despoil her than his sworn
enemy, the one they call "Hawk?" As they set about the enjoyable task
of ruining her reputation, Hawk and Mirabelle soon learn that rebellion never
tasted so sweet.

Themes:historical,
Scotland, highlanders

Rating: 3.25 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

Well, I liked this book a lot, though not as
much as the prequel to be honest and I can’t say I loved it. The story was well written, interesting, with
just enough passion and intrigue to keep the book going. If you missed the prequel you’re missing out
on a great story, but you will not in any way be lost reading this story. The characters were well written, the plot
was inventive and the setting was fascinating and beautiful.

Mirabelle
is a brave woman, one that has taken her destiny into her own hands, determined
to have a chance to be able to be with the only man she has ever loved and to
also keep herself from being stuck with a devil of a man instead. Having once fallen head over heels at first
sight, neither Mirabelle and Sorley ever really recovered from their first
meeting and when they come together again things get complicated quickly. When
his past comes back to haunt him and their passion becomes too much to handle, neither
of them are willing to give up on their love for anything.

Mirabelle
is a great character and I loved her a lot.
She is modern beyond her times, unwilling to lose her man again and
sweet to boot. Watching her blossom under Sorley’s attentions while she brings
out the sweet and loving side of him made everything worthwhile. Even though her plan is to gain Sorley’s help
in tarnishing her reputation, it is obvious to reader that her ulterior motive
is just to have a chance to be with the man she loves. Sorley, one of those guys with a strange code
of honor, attempts to refuse Mirabelle at every turn, trying to keep from
feeling anything for her again, while still protecting her from the villain after
her and determined to release her in the end to a future match with someone he
feels more deserving of her. Somewhere
during all his planning, Sorley fails to take into account the fact that a
woman like her knows her mind and when she decides just what she wants there is
no resisting her or his love for her.

Overall,
while I liked the story there was a sense there was a little something missing
for me; there was a point that the story took a sudden turn for both characters
and suddenly they went from making plans to never be together to suddenly declaring
their undying love and deciding to marry and live HEA. I liked Mirabelle and Sorley a great deal and
the love that they both shared in the end was passionate, lasting, and
sweet. Seeing Sorley on missions and in
action saving his woman was eye-opening since we mostly see him as a lady
killer instead of a serious warrior. Mirabelle’s plan was a good one, something
I could see any modern woman doing to try to get her man, and her bravery and
heart kept her safe in some scary situations. I just wish that there had been a
more subtle change of heart for the couple, one that showed the gradual change
from determined to split to deciding to be together forever. I loved the
connection with Archie McNab and am looking forward to the development of that
story line in future books, since I have a hunch just where this is
going. Meeting Sorley’s three other
friends was great too and I believe they will be the heroes in the rest of the
books in the series; I do know Roag is next and I’m looking forward to it
greatly.

*eARC provided by publisher (via
netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No
compensation was provided.